DETROIT — Dick Groch, the legendary scout who signed Derek Jeter out of Kalamazoo Central High School in 1992, completed a pretty neat baseball circle Thursday.
Figuring it might be the last chance to see Jeter play live, Groch took 12-year-old grandson Ronin Groch on a 53-mile drive to Comerica Park to witness Jeter’s final regular-season game in Michigan, the state in which he grew up.
Forty-six years ago Groch took a similar trip with son Brian to see Mickey Mantle, another Yankees icon, play for the final time in Michigan which is where Groch lives.
“We went down to the dugout before the game and I told Derek, ‘I’m not sure I will see you play live again, that this might be the last game I am able to see you play,’ ‘’ Groch said after the Tigers’ 3-2 victory. “Hopefully, I am wrong, but I didn’t want to miss the opportunity. I told him that I brought my son [Brian] to Tiger Stadium to see Mantle and I brought Ronin to see you.’’
Mantle’s last game in Detroit was 1968, six years before Jeter was born.
Honored by the Tigers Wednesday night and presented with gifts, the retiring Jeter received a standing ovation at the beginning of all four at-bats Thursday when he went 0-for-4. When he grounded out against Joba Chamberlain to start the ninth with the score tied, 2-2, the ovation was strong.
“I was aware what the fans were doing, but I was aware of the situation in the game,’’ Jeter said.
The Yankees made a move to fortify their left-handed relief on Thursday night, acquiring Josh Outman from the Indians for a player to be named or cash considerations.
Outman was 4-0 with a 3.28 ERA in 31 games for Cleveland, and had 24 strikeouts and 16 walks in 24 2/3 innings. The soon-to-be 30-year-old previously pitched for the A’s and Rockies.
Hiroki Kuroda did his part to avoid a Yankees loss. In seven innings, the starting pitcher allowed two runs and four hits but didn’t look at it as a productive outing.
“On the day I pitch I have to make sure the team wins and that didn’t happen, so it’s not a good day,’’ Kuroda said.
Kuroda is 3-2 with a 2.99 ERA in his last nine starts since July 11.
Since missing three games from Aug. 20-22 with a cranky right elbow that required a cortisone shot, Carlos Beltran has come alive at the plate.
In the six games since his return, Beltran is 9-for-24 (.375) after going 2-for-4 Thursday.
Jacoby Ellsbury went 1-for-4 and is hitting .462 (18-for-39) with three homers and nine RBIs in his last 10 games.
The Yankees are 7-35 when they score two runs or fewer.
Francisco Cervelli took a foul tip off his protective cup in the fifth inning Wednesday night that kept him down for a while and in obvious pain. He stayed in the game and said he could have played Thursday if needed.
“It got me good, but I am OK,’’ Cervelli said.